Financial Services

WHEN John Pica bought in to the Garden City franchise of global hair reduction specialists, Hairfee, in September 2007, he was sure he had chosen a winning business.

THE state government posted a record surplus in 2007-08 of $2.56 billion, fuelled by significant growth in mining royalties and taxation revenue.

CI Resources Ltd director Lip Sin Tee spent $650,000 boosting his stake in the company to more than 16 per cent. He now holds about 13 million shares at a value of $15.2 million.

PERTH'S housing market has been through a difficult few years.

THE latest round of national research grants has highlighted the University of Western Australia's status as the state's premier research institution, though the grants also indicate that WA as a whole has not performed well.

DESPITE the global credit crunch, which has wiped trillions of dollars off international share markets and made it more difficult for business to borrow money, Western Australia has again recorded another stellar year of growth, and the outlook remains st

RISING office rents in the Perth CBD are prompting a change in the city's tenant profile, with a number of companies relocating after rent reviews, and others pushed out of the city into fringe suburbs.

THE odds are very much against the survival of the BankWest brand now that the bank has been bought by the Commonwealth Bank of Australia.

THE Western Australian economy ended the 2007-08 financial year on a positive note, with most of the growth again driven by increased business investment.

THE state’s economy could yet feel the impact of the global financial crisis, which has already lifted the cost of borrowing and could make it increasingly difficult to access finance.

WHAT a roller coaster ride it's been in the past week or so.

HIGHER than expected revenue projections over the next two years have prompted the state government to cut land tax by 7 per cent, Treasurer Troy Buswell has announced.

A key market analyst says a realistic outlook for nickel prices over the next few years is around $US17,000 per tonne and producers should take heart from an expected doubling in demand over current levels by 2030.

Perth-based energy group Aviva Corp Ltd has agreed to a $22 million merger with Canadian coal producer NEMI Northern Energy and Mining Inc.

An arbitrator has been called in to settle a dispute between Alinta and its gas supplier, the Woodside-operated North West Shelf venture, that could involve third parties by way of subpoenas.

Perth has recorded the smallest increase in the rate of inflation over the September quarter, while the nation's headline inflation consumer price index rose at its fastest pace in almost 13 years.

Global disaster averted: Reserve; Swan puts price on deposit guarantee; Market split as short ban lengthened; Lender homes in on Wizard; NAB warns of more pain before gain

Higher than expected revenue projections over the next two years have prompted the state government to cut land tax by 7 per cent, Treasurer Troy Buswell announced today.

Paladio Group Ltd subsidiary, Decmil Australia Pty Ltd, has secured its second Woodside contract, worth $115 million, for civil works at the Pluto liquefied natural gas project.

The board shake out at West Australian Metals Ltd continues, with directors Leon Reisgys and Rodger Johnston resigning before a vote to remove them could be held.

Cooper Energy Ltd has hit back at share price valuations for its takeover target Incremental Petroleum Ltd, claiming it is not "realistic".

Less than a week after placing its shares in a trading halt pending a financial review, West Perth-based Matilda Minerals Ltd has called in administrators from Ferrier Hodgson.

RBA warns on bank guarantee; Mortgage fund freezes withdrawals; Grylls, Barnett up ante in royalties stalemate; Atlas reviews iron ore plans; Profits in reverse for car retailer AHG

Wesfarmers Limited has approved a major project to expand the reserves of its Curragh mine in Queensland.

Shares in Leederville-based Blackham Resources Ltd have jumped 46 per cent after a resource boost in the Scaddan coal-to-liquids joint venture with Wesfarmers Premier Coal Ltd that is projected to have mine life of over 45 years.

CBH Resources Ltd has hit back at claims that its proposed merger with Perth-based Perilya will expose the latter's shareholders to additional risks in relation to CBH's Endeavour mine and debt position.

Nationals leader Brendon Grylls said only half of the $675 million of the royalties for regions will be budgeted this year in order to maintain the state's AAA credit rating.

Shares in Perth-based Resolute Mining Ltd have been placed in a trading halt as the company assesses its ambitious $51 million capital raising.

Rift in Lib-Nats power alliance; Juniors have missed funding boat: Forrest; PM's latest crisis cure: go local; Tax breaks to spur state spending; Government sympathetic to car industry's woes

Despite the uncertain economic climate, Arafura Resources Ltd has unveiled ambitious plans to raise some $26 million through a rights issue.

West Perth-based Altera Resources Ltd has walked away from a proposed $13 million acquisition of an underground coal gasification company.

Partnerships between Western Australian businesses and arts organisations have won four out of 13 awards at this year's Australia Business Arts Foundation Awards.